Chrysanthemum planted named &#39;DLFJAM3&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFJAM3’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; small decorative-type inflorescences with red purple and light purple-colored ray florets; and relative tolerance to low and high production temperatures.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFJAM3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFJAM3’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemum plants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination on Feb. 3, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 11953 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 46712 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Oct. 27, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since Oct. 27, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFJAM3’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFJAM3’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   5. Small decorative-type inflorescences with red purple and         light purple-colored ray florets.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to low and high production temperatures.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have slightly lighter colored ray florets than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have decorative pompon-type         inflorescences whereas plants of the male parent selection have         semi-decorative type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFCORS3’, not patented. In side-by-side side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFCORS3’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as freely flowering         as plants of ‘DLFCORS3’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker in         color than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFCORS3’.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFIZABA’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFIZABA’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower almost two weeks         earlier than plants of ‘DLFIZABA’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have decorative pompon-type         inflorescences whereas plants of ‘DLFIZABA’ have semi-decorative         type inflorescences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFJAM3’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of the photographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFJAM3’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem plants and were eight weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFJAM3’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             11953, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             46712, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous pompon-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright             plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 72.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 76.9 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 16.3 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 71 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately to densely             pubescent; moderately glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144B, at the             internodes, close to 146C.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146C and 146D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 7.5 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:             Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             coarsely crenate to serrate; sinuses convergent and medium             to deep in depth. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146B and 147B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A; venation, close to 147C. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petioles:             Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to NN137B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 146C; edges, close to between 146A             and 147B. Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy             stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem.             Length: About 4.5 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Flabellate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent;             very slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             between NN137A and 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to             147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Pompon-type (decorative) inflorescence form with             narrow obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets             (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally             on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             39 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 13 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4.5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened bowl-shaped. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to 75B             and at the apex, close to NN74D (immature ray florets);             proximally, close to 137B to 137C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 300 arranged in             about ten whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly obovate; concave, slightly carinate. Apex:             Broadly acute to shallowly emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to             about 90° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Initially, close to 75B and at the apex, close to NN74D,             then close to 75C; towards the base, close to 75D. When             opening, lower surface: Initially, close to 75B and at the             apex, close to NN74D, then close to 75C; towards the apex,             close to 75A; towards the base, close to 75D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 75D; venation, close to 75D; color             does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 75C to 75D; venation, close to 75C to 75D;             color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About five spirally             arranged in a single whorl at the center of the receptacle;             disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 1.2 mm. Shape: Lower 75% fused into a tube; upper 25%             free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to N144C. Mid-section: Close to 13B. Base: Close to 150D.             Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to 151D. Mid-section: Close to 13B to 13C. Base: Close to             150D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 22             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A;             margins, translucent, and close to 157D. Color, lower             surface: Close to 137B to 137C; margins, translucent, close             to 157D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.5 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 5.2 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 30° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to between 143A and 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to             N144B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 13B. Ovary color: Close to             145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium     oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi) and White Rust strain NL1 (Puccinia     horiana). To date, resistance to pests and other pathogens common to     Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Chrysanthemum grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFJAM3’ as illustrated and described. 